By Owe Carter
We’re all hoping for one last heatwave before resigning ourselves to winter. But as much as it pains me to say, it’ll be here quicker than we’d like. So with this in mind, now’s the best time to think about switching to a gas and electricity tariff with a favourable rate before winter arrives, and prices go up due to increased demand.
Another reason to get organised early is that Confused.com is offering up to £90 cashback for switching your gas and electricity supplier at the moment!
The early-warning signs
It’s only September and already the price rises have begun. Most suppliers withdrew their cheapest online tariffs recently, and EDF were the first to put their standard tariff prices up, effective from 1 October.
According to our energy spokesperson Lisa Greenfield: “The summer has seen the removal of many of the best tariffs available. And with EDF announcing that it is going to be increasing the cost of its standard electricity from 1 October, it’s likely other suppliers will follow suit.
“It’s certainly not good news for households who are already struggling with the costs of their energy. That’s why at Confused.com we’re going to pay customers up to £90 for switching gas and electricity through us. If you haven’t switched your provider in a while there are savings to made, and the extra cash will sweeten the deal.”
To see how the energy suppliers’ best-priced tariffs are currently competing, go to our latest best buy table.
Brace your home before it starts getting cold
Another good thing to do before the chill starts setting in is to make your home more energy efficient. That could mean replacing older windows, or getting your home some cavity-wall insulation.
Speaking of which, Confused.com staff have been putting their money where their mouth is. Gareth Kloet, our head of household services, has recently had the cavity walls at his house insulated. He says “I found it to be amazingly cheap, and incredibly quick and tidy. The entire process was complete within a morning, and the installers even painted the holes they drilled. It was as good as seamless.
The cavity-wall insulation scar is smaller than a golf ball
“The total cost was less than £200. And as my energy bills are over £1,250 annually, I need to see a 16 per cent decrease in order for it to pay for itself within a year – which I feel sure we will achieve!”
But you don’t necessarily have to wait until you receive your energy bill to see if such measures make a difference. If you have a smart meter or energy monitor installed, you will be able to keep an eye on your consumption in real time. Plus, they’re taking us a welcome step away from potentially-inaccurate estimated bills.
Keep your eyes peeled for future energy-saving experiments, where Confused.com guinea pigs attempt to reduce their bills and pass on their findings to you.
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